Calisthenig apparatus



(No Model.)

G. BRUNNER.

GALISTHENIC APPARATUS.

No. 359,994. Patented-Mar. 29, 1887..

N PETER$ Photolmgxipbir, Wahlngwfu D. C.

UNTTED STATES ATENT @Tiucn.

CHAR-LES BRUNNER, OF PERU, ILLINOIS.

CALlSTHENlC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,994, dated March 29, 1867.

Application filed December 21, 1886. Serial No. ZEQJGL To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', CHARLES BRUNNER, residing at Peru, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful improvement in Calisthenic Apparatus, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the handle and balls attached for use as a dumb-bell. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the manner of putting together the parts to be used as a dumb-bell. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the handle and balls connected for use as a, chest-expander. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in position when pulled or drawn out. Fig. 5 is a detail of the connecting-pin. Fig. 6 is a detail, being an end view of the nut for holding the parts composing the dumb-bell in place.

This invention relates to devices for exercising, and which can be used either as a pair of ordinary dumb-bells or as a ehestexpauder; and its nature consists in a. handle and a pair of balls capable of being connected to form a dumb-bell, or separated to have a ball from each dumb-bell attached to a rope passing through one of the handles and connected to the other handle to form a chest-expander.

In the drawings, A represents aball or weight forming one end of the dumb-bell. This ball or weight is provided with a screwthreaded hole a, to receive the end of a rod (4.

B is a hall or weight forming the other end of the dumb-bell, which ball or weight 13 is provided with a central hole or passage eX- tending through it for the admission of the rod a. At one end of the hole or passage is a cut-away portion, forming a recess or countersink to receive a out, i), which is screwed onto the end of the rod a.

O is a hollow handle, made of brass or other suitable material, and, as shown, this handle is curved from the center toward both ends, forming at each end a flaring mouth for the reception of the balls or weights A B, and a firmer seating of these balls or weights can be had by forming a circular shoulder, a, on'the balls or weights, against which the mouths of the handle bear,'aud the formation of this shoulder prevents any slight lateral movement (No model.)

that might otherwise take place should the rod to not be fitted snugly in the central passage or hole through the ball or weight B. A hole, 0, is provided near one end of the handle 0 for the reception of a hook, the object of which will be hereinafter explained.

D is a pin corresponding in diameter to that of the rod a, and of a length sufficient to allow it to pass through the ball 13, and having on one of its ends a head, (Z, which fits into the recess formed in the hall 13, to receive the nut 12 when the parts are used as a dumb-bell. On the other end of this pin is formed a hook, d, which projects beyond the surface of the ball or weight 13.

E are ropes, each having at one end a hook, e, for insertion in the hole 0 of one of the handles O, and having at the other end a thimble or ring, a, for attachment to the hook d of the pin D.

To form a dumb-bell the parts are put together or assembled in the following manner: One end of the rod a is screwed into the hole (a of the hall or weight A. The handle 0 is then slipped over the rod a, allowing one of its flaring ends or months to rest against the shoulder a on the ball A. The rod a is then to be inserted in the passage or hole through the ball or weight B and the nut 11 screwed tightly onto the end of the rod, which forces the handle 0 against the shoulders a" on the balls or weights A B, uniting the parts to form a dumb-bell that can be used the same as an ordinary dumb-bell without danger of the parts becoming loose.

To use the parts as a lifting device for cxpanding the chest, the nuts I) are unscrewed and the ball B and handle 0 of each dumbbell are removed. The pins D are slipped into place through the passages in the balls B, the head (2 of each pin fitting within the recess occupied by the nut b when the parts are used as a dumb-bell, and supporting the weight of 95 the ball. The projecting hook d is passed through the thimble or ring 6 on the lower end of the rope E. The other end of each rope E is then passed through one of the handles 0, and the hook e secured in the hole I) of the op posite handle G, the handles 0 being placed to have the ends with the holes I) as shown in Fig. 1.

In use the handles 0 are grasped one in each hand by the user or operator, with his arms extended in front of him, and are drawn apart by swinging his extended arms horizontally I position in front of him, and this operation of raising and lowering the weights is to be repeated until the desired amount of exercise has been had.

The exercise may be varied by passing the ropes E, when extended or drawn out, over the head of the operator, by keeping one arm stationary and drawing up one weight, and. in many other ways that will be readily suggested to the operator.

The curved form of the handles 0 allows of the ropes being drawn through them with but little friction, and consequently with but little wear on the ropes. This form is also one that affords a firm grasp when used either with the dumb-bells or with the ropes and weights. The ropes are to be of a length adapted to the height of the user. i

As shown in Fig. 6, the nut b is provider with holes b, for the insertion of projections of a wrench for screwing the nutinto place.

The ball or weight B can be made without the recess at the end of its central bore or pas sage in which the nut 12 and the end at rest, the rod (1, in this form of construction, projecting sufficiently beyond the surface of the ball to allow of the nut being screwed thereon, and when the parts are used as a chest-expander the pin D, in this construction, would be made a little longer than shown in-the drawings, so that when the head d thereof rested against the surface of the ball or weight B the hook d would project, as in the construction shown in the drawings and heretofore described. The

contact-face of the nut b and headd could be concaved to correspond to the surface of the ball or weight 13.x

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

]. The combination of the recessed and shouldered ball A, the recessed, perforated,

CHARLES BRUNNER,

lVitnesses:

llIATHIAS Milnsnine, Go'rrLIEB WALKER. 

